Judaism

God

This religion, Judaism, has one god. God is the creator for everything. God is neither male or female ,god can be anywhere at any time. God can do anything, god knows everything, god knows our thought. God has no beginning or end. God is both just and merciful

Sacred Writings

Judaism has a book full of sacred writings. This book is called Torah or Tanakh. The Torah contains the law of Judaism, the
Torah Scroll
Torah Scroll

Torah Scroll
prophets writings. The Torah isn't really a book, it is a very long scroll. When you read from the scroll, you can not touch the parchment paper with your hands. Some say it is too holy to touch, some say that the acid from your fingers will ruin the parchment. You follow the words with a pointer. The scrolls are kept in a cabinet in the synagogue, the cabinet, Ark of the Covenant.

Practices, Worshiping

Jewish people practice Judaism by following Kosher. Kosher is a dietary diet. Meat and Dairy products can not be eaten at the same meal. You can not have certain animals. You can not have certain stuff with the animals. The are even certain parts of the animal you may not eat, such as, flesh, organs, and milk. Birds and Mammals mush be killed in accordance with Jewish law. All blood must be either drained out or broiled out before eating certain parts of the animal. Utensils that come in contact with meat may not be used in perparing dairy products, vise-verse. Utensils that have come in contact with non-kosher food can not be used with Kosher food. Fruits and Vegetables can be eaten, but they have to be unspected for bugs, whitch may not be eaten. If there are any Grape products that are made by non-Jews, they can not be eaten.
There are actually 613 Commandment for the Judaism Belief. Then Ten Commandments are the categories for the 613 Commandments. There are some Commandments as follows:
1. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of slavery in Egypt.
2. You shall have no other gods but me.
3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
4. You shall remember and keep the Sabbath day holy.
5. Honor your mother and father.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.
Please remember that these are only Ten of the 613 Commandments.


Festivals,When, Why, and How???


A big religious holiday for the Jewish, is Passover or Pesach.
WHEN: Jewish celebrate the religious celebration on the 15th day of the Jewish month Nissan.
WHY: They celebrate this holiday to commemorate the birth of the Jewish nation. On this date, a couple thousand years ago was when the Egyptians took the Jews into slavery. God, he wanted the Jews out of slavery. So He sent out 10 devastating plagues. On the 15th day of Nissan, God passed over the home over the Jewish Children and killed all the other first born Egyptians. That was when the Pharaoh let the Jews free.
HOW: First of all, the Holiday is split up into two parts. 1) the first two days, and the last two days, (to commemorate the split of the red sea) are big holidays! With Holiday candles are lite at night, and tons of yummy in the tummy holiday meals are eaten on days and nights. You are not to work on these first two days, and the last two days. You must cook, and eat the stuff that you cooked of course!! There are four middle day between the last two days and the first two days. Those four days are called "Chol Homoed", semi-festive "intermediate days," most Jews are allowed to work on those days.


Tzitzit
Tzitzit

Tzitzit

Symbols


There are many Symbols for the Judaism religion, each different symbol stands for a different meaning. Such as Mezuzah is not a good luck charm as some might think, bit is a reminder of the God's presence. Mezuzah is places on the doors of the traditional Jews and some not so Traditional Jews. Tzitzit are fringe at the corner of the garment. They are worn only by men, not woman, but woman are not pr
Tallit
Tallit

Tallit
prohibited into wearing it. Each strings and knot are a representation of the Torahs Do's and Don't's. When you were a Tzitzit you have Jewish pride. Tallit is a 4- corner garment similar to a poncho. The Tallit garment is a metaphor for God's infiniter transcendent light. Tefillin is meant to remind us of God. Menorah is probably the most popular symbol, it is a 7-branched candelabrum used in
Mezuah
Mezuah

Mezuah
Hanukkah. Yarmalke is a least religious symbol. Yarmalke is used to cover one's head during prayer. Magein David or commonly known as Star of Davis, this symbol was the symbol that was represented on King Davids shield. Hamesh Hand is a very popular in jewelry, even though there is nothing really Jewish about the Hamesh Hand. Chai refers to the living of god. The pictures that are shown are some of the more religious symbols rather than the not so much religous symbols.




Founder, What Year???

The founder of this religion is more tricky than others. Abraham was the founder of this religion. He is one of the worlds greatest truth seekers of all times!!! He found the religion Judaism around 2000 years ago. Abraham was born with the name Abram. One day God called to Abram and made a deal with him, he would leave his home and his family and God would give him a great nation. There were ten test's of faith Abram would have to pass. Leaving his home and family was one of them. When he roamed around the land that is now called Israel, (which was were God had promised the land to Abram) Abram started to get worried. He was growing old and had no kids. He found himself a wife, Sarahi, but she was too old to bear a child. Therefore, she offered him her maid servant, Hagar for his wife. Surprisingly this was quit common. Hagar bore Abram a son names Ishmael, which according to both Muslim and Jewish tradition, is the ancestor to the Arabs. By the time Abram was 100 and Sarai was 90, God promised Abram a son from Sarahi. First God had to change Abram's name to Abraham, means 'father of many'. Also Sarahi's name to Sarah, witch goes from 'my princess' to 'princess'. Surly enough, as god have promised Sarah bore a son named Isaac, who witch is the ancestor of the Jewish people. Thus, the Jewish religion was born!!


Religious Leaders


There are many different Religious Leaders in Judaism. Such as the Rabbi, is the teacher, and sufficiently educates about Halakhah. A Rabbi is not a priest, some may think that, but it is not a Priest. Priest and Rabbi are two totally different things. A rabbi has no special perm
Rabbi
Rabbi

Rabbi
ission to perform sacred worship. Anybody in the Synagoge can perform a sacred worship. Chazzan is the person who leads the congregation in prayer. In some smaller congregations, the Rabbi also servers as Chazzan. The Kohain are the descendant of Aaron. Aaron was the original high priest.



Place of Worship

Synagogue
Synagogue

Synagogue

Jews have a place of worship like all the other religions. Their place of worship is a Synagogue. Synagogue means, a house of prayer. Another place of worship is Midrash, witch is a house of study. In Jewish religions, the Synagogues can double as a town hall. If a non-Jew visits a Synagogue, witch the are allowed to, the must dress and behave appropriately. In the Synagogue, there are different religious items, such as; Torah Scrolls, the Torah Scrolls are located in the Ark, which is a cabinet. The Synagogue is the place of worship.



Beginning, Where it is Practiced



In the beginning of Judaism, it was discovered in the Middle East of the World. Today this religion is practiced in Israel, Asia, Russia, and Canada. Of course, there are other places where is Judaism is practiced, but those are just the main place where it was practiced.


Main Beliefs

Like every religion there is a set of beliefs for Judaism, The Beliefs are as follows.

1) God Exists.
2) God in one and Unique.
3) God is incorporeal.
4) God is Eternal.
5) Prayer is to be directed to god alone and no other.
6) The word of the Prophets are true.
7) Moses' Prophecies are true. and Moses was the greatest of the Prophets.
8) The Written Torah (first five book of the Bible) and oral Torah were given to Moses.
9) There will be no other Torah.
10) God knows the thoughts of deeds of men.
11) God will reward the good, punish the wicked.
12) The Messiah will come true.
13) The dead will be resurrected.